title: Avastin as an adjunct to vitrectomy in the management  of severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy: a prospective  case series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a monoclonal antibody which targets all isoforms of vascular endothelial growth factor A. Its potent anti-angiogenic effects have been shown to cause regression of neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Avastin as an adjunct to vitrectomy in the management of severe diabetic eye disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients (18 eyes) with severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy were recruited into the study. All eyes underwent a single intravitreal injection of bevacizumab 1.25 mg in 0.05 mL prior to vitrectomy surgery for the management of tractional retinal detachment or vitreous haemorrhage due to severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 3 months, seven eyes had visual acuities which were better than baseline, four were unchanged and seven were worse. At 6 months, 14 eyes had visual acuities better than baseline, one was unchanged and three were worse. Seven of the 18 eyes (38.8%) had postoperative rebleeds, six of which required surgical washout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Avastin improved the ease of the surgery in these complex eyes and the early results are encouraging. We have found it to be particularly useful in diabetic eyes with traction detachments of short duration in which there is still active neovascularization.
authors.affiliation: Vitreoretinal Unit, The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buttery
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Essex
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCombe
authors.forename: Salmaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy; D014823:Vitreous Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab